Marine harvester.



R. BROOKS. MARINE HARVESTER.

v APPLICATION FILED MAR. 11, 1912. l 1,028,671, f' l I Patented June 4, 1912.

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Y R. BRooKs. MARINE HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAB.. 11, 1912. y 1,028,671 Patented June 4, 1912.

I s sums-SHEET 2.

R. BROOKS. MARINE HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.11. 1912,

1,028,671 Patented'June 4, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Invert/tor. Reucmrao/S www@ ` To all whom t may concern:

REUBEN BROOKS, OF GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

. MARINE HARVESTER.

speeian'on of Letters Patent.

Patented June 4, 1912.

Appiieation filed Marciiii, 1912. serial No. A653,180.

Be it known that I, REUBEN BRooigs, a

citizen of lthe United States, and a resident' :of Gloucester, inA the county of Essexaiid` State of Massachusetts, have invented cer' and useful Improvements in tain new Marine Hai'vcsters,l of which the following is a specification.

This invention hasfor its object to. pro- -vide a floating'harvester adapted to rapidly and economically sever water growing plants below the surface of the water and to elevate thefsevered material above the water and 'deposit it on or in a lioating recept-acle.

The Ainvention is embodied in a marine support, such as a scow or other boat, submerged cutting mechanisml adapted to severwater growing plants 'below the surface of the body of water on which the support 4oats, a partly submerged conveyer or elevator-adapted to engage the severed material at a point below the surface of the waterand deliverl it at apoint above the water and over the support so that the severed Amaterial maybe convenientlygstored either on the support or on an adjacent floating support, and means for simultaneously voperating the cutting mechanism and the conveyer. v i

The invention consists in tails of mechanism and constrnctionl incidental tothe general purposes of mty invention.

Of the accompanying drawings forming la part of this specification: Figure'l represents a side view of a marine harvesterlem` bodyi'ng my invention, thel cutting mechal nism and the conveyer being shownraised from the water and stored inoperatively on the support; Fig. 2 represents a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the cuttingvinechanism and conveyerin their operative positions,

and also showing a supplemental. surface' The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the figures. In the drawings 12 represents a lioating support whichmay be of the general form the combination of elements above recited and in Varioiis de- .of an. ordinary s cow or iat boat, or of any other suitable form and construction adapted to sustain the cutting mechanism, the conveyer, the'motor and other coperating parts hereinafter described. For convenience I will hereinafter refer to the lvessel as the lio'ating support. f

I will n ow prceed todescribe the` preferred construction of the cutting mechanism, the conveyer and other essential parts, it being understood, however, that the con-v struction hereshown is adopted for purposes of illustration and ma bevarioiisly modified within the scope o the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invent-ion. i

The supportr 12 is' provided with two longitudinal extensions 13 separated by an from a position above the support, as shown by Fig. 1, to the operative posit-ioii shown by Fig. 2, the extensions 13 being preferably4 connected by a cross-tie or girder 15 at` their y outer ends.

16 represents the longitudinal side meinbers of a trussed frame. These members'are provided with lateral trunnions 170, which are journaled- -in bearing blocks 180 on the support 12 and are adapted to occupy the horizontal position shown by Fig. 1 or the inclined position shown by F ig. 2. Said trame includes trussed members 17, 18, 19 and 20, preferably 'relatively arranged "as shown, the whole constituting a sti and rigid frame adapted to be easily movedffrom either of the positions shown .to tlie other.

The trussed trame supports, the cutting mechanism and the conveyer hereinafter described, andiwlien inclined as shown by Fig.

2 holds the cutting mechanism in position to act below the water level, the lower por- Jtion of the conveyer being also submerged while its upper portion is elevated above the water level. i

The cutting mechanism preferably includes a bar 21 correspondin to the bar of, a mowing machine and lattac ed' tothe forward endsof the frame members 16, said bar being 4provided with guard fingers'22 adapted to coperate with angular knives on a cutter bar 24 resembling that of a mowing machine. The linger and cutter bars are horizontally arranged and are adapted to cut' horizontally through a ido growth of. lzelp or other marinefvegetatioii' at a .suitable distance.below the surface of the. water. The fsaid finger bar 21 andcutter bar, 24 may constitute 1theentire cutting'inechaiiism;` b'u't- I- prefer to associate therewith two duplicate verticaliinger and .cutter bars, the vertical i'inger bars being formed Ibythe truss members 17 and providdwith 'guard "ingersi 25 which coper-4 ate 'with angular 'cutting knives 2601i ve'rtical c'utter bars 25a which .are movable ,on the 'iingerfbars 17'. In'this embcdimeiit lof'tlie invention' the'vertical'cutter bars 26a arel employed tocommunicate' reciprocating,

'motion to the horizontal cutter bars 24, the vertical.- cutter bars being reciprocated by mechanism carried by the vtruss frame and fiexib'ly connected by 4chains 27 vwi'tli- .the

lzo.

horizontal .cutter bar, said 'chain passing under guide pulleys 280'. 1 y 270 represents a shaft jcurnaled inY bearings at'tlie upper ends ofv the .members 17 of the truss frame andi-'provided with vwheels,

or'disks 28 having eccentricwvris'tpins 29 which are connected by .pitmen`' with the vertical cutter barsll 26a, 'the'wris't pis and pitmen being so arranged that'the I'cutter bars 26a are moved simultaneously in 'oppc-.

site directions, 'so tliat'they l'pull alternatelyA on and reciprocate thehorizcntal cutter bar 24 through the chains 27. l The shaft-270 -is rotated by` power transmitted from a ga'sci lelie engine 31 lor-'ctlier motor tl'irough a sprocket chain 32, asprocketwlieel BSaiHXed to a transverse shaft the ends ofwhicli form the 'trunnions 170 M (said Y shaft',V etending acrossI the truss. framejai'ldy .being provided. with additional sprocket wheels 34' and 35),`

'and a sprocket cli'ain 36`ccniiecting|the wheel 34 with the wheel 28, which also has sprocket teeth. Thedescribed connection between the motor and the' cutting mechanism is'unaifected by changes'in-the position- 'of the Vtruss frame, so that the critter.

bars may be re'ciprocated when the frame is in dilTerent-positions, andare always operil atively connected witlftliamctor'. p' I 38 represents the conveyerv composed. of

an endless bandvrunniiigoiirolls`i39 and 40- -50 jcuri'ialed in bearings on the'tr'ussfram'e, and provided with spurs or-teet-h ,38? adapt# ed` to engage the materiall detached by the cutters. The roll 40 has-a ysprocket wheel 41 attacliedto'its shaft,.this -being connectedv byl a chain 42"*wit-h the sprciiket'wheel 'The conveyer 4is therefore positively driven,

its outer stretchbeing moved upwardly and its lower portion being. submerged and in position to engage the floating 'detached .materiaL. The conveyer vis inclined as. shown by'Fig. 2, and the material elevated by it is deposited on a, 'p1atformj4 3 located at .the rear'pcrtion of the' support.

. The truss frame is provided Awith,f jiards 44 .at opposite edgesof the conveyer to prei vent the material beingraised fromV escaping laterally, said guards'being preferably elongated sheet metal strips forming sides ingbottom. y'llie lower portions' (of said guards ate' preferably supplemented'by eX- tensions 45 'which may be triangular 'sheets the frame members T17., and tolbraces 46 extending between theframe iiembers 16 and 17. The function of the extensions is to prevent the material below the-.surface of freely through them. x l f The platform 43 on 'which the' elevated .material is de iosited is preferably elevated considerably a ove the water levelfso that pitched oii into a 'scow 4S beside the support The platform 4preferably has hinged entensio'iis 49, at opposite edges,.and movablesupports," 5.0 adapted to-sustain the ex# 'teiisioiis horizontally, each extension being adapted to drop to a vertical position as shown by Figs. 3 and 4.I .One or more men 'extension 13, andadapted-*t'o cut, both below and above the water l"evel,to sever parts 'f the material, which might not ,be reached by the cutters 2G. The 'cutters 52 may loe-re ciprocatedby levers or walking beams 53 cutters 52.

The' described apparatus is intended particularlyvfor liaryesting kelp in places where it grows from a bottom -cf considerable 'depth to the surface of the'water, as'on the ynorthern parts of. the Pacic coast. AThe help, which is valuable asa fertilizer, grows luXiiriant-ly 'audits stems and leaves become densely tangled a't and -near the surface of fthe watersc 'that in manyfplacesfvertical r'cutting is necessary to detach from themain The vertical cutters are.. therefbrevery imof'a trough or` passage gifwliichthe cuter" ystretch or tlieconv'eyer band forms a 'nov' of woven wire', attached' tcth'e guards 44,

tlie"water vfroiiifloating laterally" ove'r the Aguard 44, the'fforaniinous construction .off the extensions permitting water to pass the deposited material may be' conveniently 'may be employed to movel movable in -vertical guides on, the support `pivoted at 54 and' connected directly with' the vertical cutters 26S-and 'by rods with the im,

field the lsurface'portions.to be` removed;

stationed cir-the platform can readily pitch the materialtherefromL into the receiving irc portant when the surfacegacwth is tangled'V y or matted. Whenthis is not the case' the vertical cutters areknct required,` and tlie horizontal cutter may be used alone, and

' may be reciprocated by plain slides substituted for the vert-ical cutters or cutter bars 26, and connected with the horizontal cutter by the chains .27. In the interests of conservation it is very desirable that the removed kelp be detached above the roots tangled portions.

and without exerting a strain onV the stalks liable to uproot them, the best practicebeing to' cut oifthe stalks about eight feet. be-

low the water level in order that they may again grow to the surface. By cutting the tangled matter vertically at the edges of the horizontal cut I enable the detached material to be easily withdrawn from the'water by the conveyer, withoutv strain on the roots of any stalk that may be involved in the The conveyer band 'is preferably composedof transverse slats iexibly connected,

, the teeth being secured to the slats.

"The harvesting outfit when in operation is generally moved against the tide along one edge of a kelp bed or field, the'receiving scow being interposed between the field and the tug. When the Work is completed the levers 53 are disconnected-from the operating means on1 the` truss frame, and said frame is swung to the horizontal"position shown by Fig. 1, the support 12 being then in condition to be towed to shore.

I prefer to locate an inclined deiiector 58 under the delivering portion of the conveyer, to deflect the material laterally onto the platform'ft. There are preferably two of these platforms, one at the port and the other at the starboard side, so that the' deiiector is adjustable and adapted to guide the material onto either platform, as shown vby full and dotted lines in Fig. 3.

I claim: 1. The combinationwith a marine vessel, of harvesting mechanism movably supported thereby to cut material below the surface ofthe water, means for elevating the submerged material out by the harvesting mechanism, and means for respectively submerging or raising said harvesting mechanism and said elevating means.

2. The combination with a marine vessel, of a frame pivotally supported by sai-d veslsel to cutl material below the surface ofthe Water, harvesting mechanism carried by said frame means carried by said frame for elevating t e submerged material cut by the harvesting mechanism, and means for ro'clrin'g said r raise said harvesting mechanism and said elevating means.

3. The combination with a marine ves.

sel, of a movable frame supported thereby,

ame to respectively submerge orharvesting mechanism movably supported by said traine to cut material below the surface of the water, a conveyer also carried by' said frame for elevating the stibmergedmiaf" ferent positions.

terial cut bythe harvesting mechanism, and

means for moving said frame to respectively ,i

submerge or lraise said harvesting mechanism. i n

4. The combination with a marine vessel, of harvestingmechanism supported thereby, means for elevating the submerged material cutby the harvesting mechanism, and

means for ,simultaneously submerging'or elevating said harvesting mechanism and the recelving endof said elevating VVmechanism.

5. The combination with a marine vessel, of a movablefra'me, supported thereby, harvesting mechanism carried by said frame to cut material below the surface of the water,

a conveyer also carriedby said fra1ne-for i elevating the submerged material cut by the harvesting mechanism, and means for moving said .fr ame to respectively submerge or raise said harvesting mechanism and said conveyer, a motor, connections between the motor and cutting mechanism having pro- -visions for imparting movement to the cutting mechanism when the frame is in dif- In a marine harvester the combination -of a floating support, a' substantially horizontal submerged cutter, substantially vertical cutters at oppo'site'edges of the path 4of the horizontal cutter, means for operating said vertical cutters, and means operated by said'vertical cutters for simultaneously operating said horizontal cutter.

7. In a marine harvester the combination of a floating support, a substantially horizontal submerged cutter, substantially vertical cutters at opposite edges of the path of -the horizontal cutter, means for reciprocating the vertical cutters simultaneously in opposite directions, and flexible connections between the vertical cutters and the horizon- 'zontal submerged cutter, substantially vertical cutters at opposite edges of the pathl of the horizontal cutter, a pivoted frame carrying said cutters, and meanspartly carried by said frame for reciprocating the vertical cutters, and means operated by the vertical4 cutters for reciprocating the `horizontal cutter.

1.0.- In a marine harvester the combinntim: of a iloating support, submerged cutting s'aid connections beingcarried in part by,

veyer, and an elevated platform on the sup- "formhaving, a hinged extension and mv.-

'of 'a floating-'support having \'spaced apart extensions at one end, a.'frame pi'voted on mechanism,/ a' partly submerged cohveyer adapted to raise-material severed'by the cut-z ting meclianisin, means foigsubmerging and raising said cutting mechanismv and ,con-

port adapted to receive the material deposited by the conveyerf,

11. o'f a fioating support, submerged, 4cutting n ieclianisn,` partly subnyergedv conveyer; adapted lto raise material severe d`,by vthe cut-r ting mechanism, and an elevated'platforin on the .support adapted to. 'receive the' nia ter-iai deposited. 'by thel conveyer, 'said plat# iii-ari operative position; 12. In a Amarine harvester thev combination able means for' supportinf'g;l said `extensionthe body of the suppot. 'and adapted to swing. downwardly between said extensions, cutting mechanism' carried by' said iframe, and aconveyer carried. by-said frame, 'supp'lemental `cutters carried by said, extensions, ainotor, aiid connections between the motor and the .cutting mechanism and -coiiveyery the rame.

13; In a marine 'harvester lthe combination of'a. loat ing. support, :a frame pvoted. theretov prventfthe harvested ing laterally While submerged.

ried by the frame atf'opposite edges ofthe operative stretch" of the conveyer, and means ,for rocking said/frame to place' the crit-ting mechanism antlj conveyer ingl operative 0r,

A l inoperative positiornjA In a marineharvester the combination @fiiar'v-esting mechanism supported thereby',

means for'elevating the 'submerged material -cu t b' the liarvestin mechanism means .for moving. said harvesting mechanism and '--said elevatingl means into operative and 'i-. Aolrjerat-ive positions respectlvely-amd guardscoperating Withsaid elevating mechanism material trom fioat- 15. In a marine' harvester the combination "of a` floating ,support,'.a substantially horizontal-'submerged 'cut-ter,- lsubstantially ver= tical cutters 'at' opposite edges ofthe path .of

the horizontal cutter, supplementalverticalr cutters in advance-*ofthe first mentioned vertical critters, and means `for simultaneouslyopera'ting said cutters.;

' In testimony whereofv I have afiiived lmy) signature, in presenceof two witnesses'. REUBEN, BRQOKS 'Vitnesses:

' E. BATCH ELDER,

Copies 'of this patent may -be 'obtained'for fiv'ie cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of'iatentlsfI 

